Anchor Brewery offers a look at brewing history

While the American craft beer movement is often said to have started with the New Albion brewery in 1979, there were a few traditional breweries that made it through the lean years of American brewing in the 1950s through the early 1980s. Anchor Brewing is one of those few. Despite being almost bankrupt and having frequent production problems due to their antiquated brewing equipment, they persevered, and were ultimately rescued in 1965 when Fritz Maytag purchased the brewery. Under Maytag’s leadership, the brewery expanded its offerings and was able to cement its place in San Francisco’s brewing landscape.